Rockies wait for Jeff Francis, work to fix Jeremy Guthrie

As the Rockies wait for the official arrival of lefty starter Jeff Francis, the club is trying to fix right-hander Jeremy Guthrie.

And, FYI, Albert Pujols is starting at third base for Angels tonight.

Francis, returning to the fold after stints with the Royals last year and the Red’s Triple-A team this season, has not officially signed a contract. Sources say he will be signed and ready to start Saturday’s game against the Angels.

Guthrie, meanwhile, threw a bullpen session today with Chris Nelson and Eric Young Jr. at the plate. The objective of the session was to improve Guthrie’s command.

“I have done that in the past,” he said this afternoon. “With an extra day off, it’s nice to squeeze in a little extra session and be able to pitch to the hitters when you they are up there. It’s more than a bullpen and not as much as a game. It’s nice to try and simulate closer to a game than you normally get.”

Guthrie is scheduled to start Tuesday against the A’s. Manager Jim Tracy continues to stand by Guthrie, saying that Guthrie’s main problem is a simple inability to locate his fastball where he needs to.

If the Guthrie can fix that, the Rockies hope there won’t be a repeat of his performance Tuesday night in Arizona when he got hammered for seven run on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

“I’m healthy, but I’m not executing pitches as well as I need to,” Guthrie said. “My biggest problem is that I am not throwing strikes. I’m not throwing strikes early, and when I get behind in counts I’m throwing meaty pitches that improve their chances of hitting them.”

Guthrie said it can be fixed.

“I’m optimistic, because what I am doing wrong is so glaring, that when you fix it it puts the pitcher in a position to succeed,” he said. “I’m not that far away, I just have to be better in the zone early in the count.”

Why is no one talking about the real story….Helton is done and merely taking up space…why do we not explore trade options or simply release him? Are we in the Baseball business or if not, let’s start running Dinger out there as fans seem to like him as well….Please sell the team Monforts! if you keep running it like a beer league softball team, we 150 true baseball fans in Denver actually would like to watch a competiive baseball team and deserve more

http://www.facebook.com/billkonigsberg Bill Konigsberg

Wait… THAT’S the real story? We could have Babe Ruth out there at first base and the Rockies would still be under .500 by a lot. That’s what having a rotation that can’t get guys out will do to ya.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.